Replace a string value with previous string in a group if first 10 characters are same

[mohammedali0]

Hi

I have data which have merchant names but mispelled texts. which is becoming hard while joining this table with other table on basis of merchant name. im trying to replace the text with first row in the group. if first 10 characters are same.

Data Have;
input merchant_name $20.;
cards;
future retail pvt. ltd.
future retail limited
future retail ltd
osborne corporation
osborne corp ltd
;

run;

desired output should be like

future retail pvt. ltd.
future retail pvt. ltd.
future retail pvt. ltd.
osborne corporation
osborne corporation

thanks

[ChrisNZ · Accepted solution]

Like this?

data HAVE;
input MERCHANT_NAME $40.;
cards;
future retail pvt. ltd.
future retail limited
future retail ltd
osborne corporation
osborne corp ltd
run;
data WANT;
  set HAVE;
  length PREV $40;
  retain PREV;
  if MERCHANT_NAME =: substr(PREV,1,10) then MERCHANT_NAME=PREV;
  else PREV=MERCHANT_NAME;
run;

MERCHANT_NAME
future retail pvt. ltd.
future retail pvt. ltd.
future retail pvt. ltd.
osborne corporation
osborne corporation

[mohammedali0]

Thanks a ton Sir.

[singhsahab]

hi .


DATA NEW_HAVE1 (DROP=merchant_name RENAME=(PREV_VALUE=NEW_VALUE));
SET HAVE;
LENGTH PREV_VALUE $50;
RETAIN PREV_VALUE;
IF merchant_name =: SUBSTR(PREV_VALUE,1,10) THEN merchant_name=PREV_VALUE;
ELSE PREV_VALUE=merchant_name;
RUN;